THE Woolhope Dome, as geologists call it, rises above the rivers Wye and Frome to the east of Hereford.

It's a roughly circular outcrop of ancient Silurian limestone, covering several square miles and standing proud of the younger, softer, more easily eroded sandstone which is the main constituent of lowland Herefordshire.

The dome is a major landscape feature which should offer numerous opportunities for walks - but most of the paths which traverse the higher parts of it are not rights of way.

While that's disappointing, there are still some beautiful walks to enjoy in the area, such as this one, which climbs to one of the highest points (265m) of the Woolhope Dome to reveal views which extend from the Cotswolds to the Brecon Beacons.

Closer to hand, there are glimpses of woods and plantations, and an exploration of the peaceful meadows and orchards around the hamlet of Checkley in the valley of Pentaloe Brook.

Tarrington, where the walk begins, has some interesting houses, a Norman church and a former school built in 1874 by Lady Emily Foley of neighbouring Stoke Edith, an estate village set in parkland.

Stoke Edith was bought in 1670 by a Worcester ironmaster, Thomas Foley, whose son Paul became Speaker of the House of Commons in 1690.

Sadly, the Foleys' house was destroyed by fire in 1927 when the efforts of the fire brigade were hampered by the fact that local water supplies were frozen solid.

WALK along the lane which leaves the road beside the Tarrington Arms, then keep straight on at a crossroads on a "no through road" towards Alder's End.

When you reach Alder's End turn left on a footpath/farm track, following yellow arrows.

Turn right when you come to a T-junction, following the track into sheep pasture.

Go diagonally left, cutting across the field corner to a stile (not the one in the corner). Continue across another field to a hedge gap and across the next field, going diagonally towards woodland.

Pass through the wood to a footbridge and in the same direction over the ensuing field, walking between two oak trees and heading for two prominent houses at Durlow Common.

A footbridge and stile lead to a track and you go forward past the two houses (Oakeyfield Cottage and Durlow Cottage) then left on a track to a junction with a rough lane. Turn right.

Soon after passing Upper Hazle Farm the lane begins to climb steadily upwards, becoming rougher and stonier before eventually turning left.

At this point keep straight on along a field-edge footpath. Cross a stile at the top and turn right on to a ridge-top path with superb views over Haugh Wood and Hereford to the Brecon Beacons.

After a few paces turn left downhill, then turn right when you meet a lane. Turn right at the next junction, towards Checkley.

After about 500m join a footpath on the left, just after Pine Cottage. Go down a stony track to a stile then to the bottom right corner of a meadow.

Cross a stile and follow Pentaloe Brook through more meadows.

When you come to a footbridge, don't cross it. Stay on the same side of the brook but veer away from it to bypass a house and cross a meadow to where three overgrown stiles do their best to impede access to the next meadow.

Go straight on by the hedge, over two stiles to another meadow and over a final stile to a track.

Turn right, then immediately left. At the next junction go straight on along a tree-lined path to the left of The Oaks.

Shortly, cross a stile and keep straight on along the edge of an orchard.

Ignore a stile on the right and keep straight on for a few paces more before turning right, following yellow arrows then going left into another orchard.

At the far side two stiles and a footbridge give access to a field. Go straight across to the far side and turn right to a lane.

Turn right and pass a phone box then join a footpath on the left at a footbridge.

Turn right across a meadow and over a pair of stiles to the next.

Very soon another stile gives on to a bridleway where you turn left.

Turn left again at a junction with a well-defined track.

Walk through woodland and a conifer plantation to meet another track and turn right. The track climbs steadily up Tower Hill to a junction where you join another bridleway, going roughly straight on, to the left of a barn.

Pass close by a ruined house and descend to join a lane near Dormington.

Turn right, then keep straight on along a footpath when the lane bends left. Continue through the hamlet of Perton, turn left at a T-junction then first right past Honeycomb Cottage.

Go straight on along a track along the edge of Perton Park.

At Stoke Edith go through a green wooden gate on the right into Stoke Edith Park and keep straight on to Tarrington.

DISCLAIMER: This walk has been carefully checked and the directions are believed to be correct at the time of publication.

No responsibility is accepted by either the author or publisher for errors or omissions, or for any loss or injury, however caused.